Unearthing the Inner Most Layers of the Earth
For decades, people have been taught that our planet Earth has four layers: the crust, the mantle, the outer core, and the inner core. This idea is commonly held in scientific circles. But, an Australian National University investigation has discovered evidence of a fifth layer – a massive metal ball known as the “innermost inner core.”
While this was an unexpected discovery to many, it was not for all scientists. A team of scientists discovered evidence of a new layer of the planet’s deep core.
Data acquired from seismic waves created by earthquakes, according to seismologists at The Australian National University (ANU), has given new insight into the deepest areas of the Earth’s inner core.
Researchers used seismograph data to postulate the existence of a fifth layer twenty years ago. The inner core, found in 1936 by Danish seismologist Inge Lehmann, accounts for less than 1% of Earth’s volume (the Earth’s center is around 4,000 miles below the surface). Its depth beneath the surface and small size, however, make direct observations problematic, so scientists instead examine shock waves caused by earthquakes.
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The Fifth Layer
Researchers have uncovered a new, innermost layer tucked under our planet’s inner core, a 400-mile-long solid metallic ball that responds unexpectedly to earthquake-rebounding shockwaves.
“About 20 years ago, the existence of an internal metallic ball within the inner core, the innermost inner core, was proposed. We now present more data to support the idea “Thanh-Son Phaim of the ANU Research School of Earth Sciences agreed.
The researchers studied seismic waves that travel right through the Earth’s core and ‘spit out’ on the other side of the planet from where the earthquake happened, a phenomenon known as the “antipode”.
The waves subsequently return to the quake’s epicenter.
The specialists arrived at their conclusion after evaluating the seismic activity created by 200 earthquakes and tremors over the last decade. They were particularly interested in how quickly seismic waves traveled through the earth’s inner core.
While this innermost core is still made up of the same substance as the rest of the inner core, it has distinct qualities that govern how fast seismic waves move through it, depending on the direction of motion, a phenomenon known as anisotropy.
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The experts believe this metallic ball was generated by a “major global event,” such as a massive tectonic movement hundreds of millions of years ago. And, given that it may be what allowed life to flourish on Earth, it’s an important piece of the jigsaw as well as a fascinating peek into our planet’s early history.
Components of The Newly Discovered Layer
The newly discovered fifth layer at the earth‘s core is composed of a solid inner core of iron and nickel, surrounded by a liquid outer core of iron and nickel. This layer has been called the D” layer and is believed to be the result of extreme temperatures and pressures in the core. This layer is thought to be the source of seismic waves and may also be responsible for the Earth‘s magnetic field.
It is believed that the D” layer is located approximately 5,150 km below the Earth‘s surface and is approximately 250 km wide. This layer may also contain other elements including sulfur, oxygen, and carbon. It is still unclear exactly how this layer affects the Earth‘s internal structure and dynamics, and further research is needed.
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Conclusion
This technological innovation will not only allow us to better comprehend our planet in its present state, but it also has the potential to assist scholars to learn more about Earth’s past and future. Experts say the findings are interesting because they provide a new technique to investigate the Earth’s inner core and centermost region.
Some academics are particularly interested in what the composition of the deepest inner core can inform us about a previously unstudied significant global event. The seismic wave study revealed that the innermost inner core has a crystalline alloy structure that differs greatly from the outer regions, basically opening up a whole new chapter of planetary evolution for scientists to investigate.
